161. Telegram From the Embassy in the Republic of
China to the Department of
State0

Taipei, January 10, 1963, 5 p.m.

595. For Governor Harriman from
Kirk. During visit Foreign
Minister Shen at his home (he
suffering from a severe cold) I brought up informally the current
Peiping propaganda onslaught about the 9 teams recently obliterated by
ChiComs.1 Broadcasts from Peiping were being pretty factual to
identities of prisoners and of sources of their equipment [Page 338]and I pointed out United States was
being pilloried as villain of this act with scanty attention to ChiNats.
Furthermore it appeared these broadcasts were being directed to many
parts of the world and again US accused of aggressive action. Shen said he also had become aware of
this heavy propaganda attack from Peiping and deplored its virulence
with some regret ChiNats captives had fallen into trap.

Then I pointed out that President Kennedy held strongly view that United States must do
nothing now to be accused of aggressive action in Taiwan Straits area,
that as I had stressed to Generalissimo in my earliest talks (July 4 and
5) furnishing by US of B57s plus large numbers landing craft was not
consistent with above basic attitude, and that our position must
continue to remain steadfastly of such nature.

Also I remarked that repeated claims by “highest sources” here that
ChiNats were penetrating mainland with guerrillas, agents, etc. in
preparation for “counter offensive”2 was having result (press
sources) of Peiping expecting ChiCom
populace increase vigilance against such efforts, especially along
coastlines. Added that my personal view was concentration ChiCom armies abreast Taiwan last summer
was direct response to ChiNats bellicose assertions that return to
mainland was imminent. I also noted that this ChiNat publicity created
pressure on Department spokesman to comment on guerrilla question and
that such pressure could scarcely produce results pleasing to either my
government or his. I left with Minister copy of Department spokesmans
statement January 9.3

Foreign Minister had little to say except that results small probes were
disappointing and Peiping making most of opportunity, and that he
appreciated friendly manner in which topic had been broached. Added that
statement by Ministry National Defense spokesman January 84 had been surprise to him.

A PRC Public Security Ministry communique of December 29
declared that nine groups of “U.S.-Chiang
Kai-shek agents” had been “wiped out” in the past 3
months. A January 11 memorandum from Director of the Bureau of
Intelligence and Research Thomas L.
Hughes to Harriman summarizes the report as follows: Communist
press commentary attacking the United States as the moving force
behind the infiltration, and Nationalist press reports “confirming”
that 172 guerrillas had been “killed” but claiming that others were
active on the mainland. (Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries
Series, China) Information concerning the nine Nationalist teams is
summarized in a memorandum of January 14 from Desmond FitzGerald to Thomas
Parrott, attached to a memorandum of January 15 from Parrott to
Bromley Smith.
(Ibid.)↩

Telegrams 593 and 596 from Taipei, both January 10, reported
extensive reports to this effect in the press. (Department of State,
Central Files, 793.00/1-1063)↩

Telegram 473 to Taipei,
January 10, transmitted an excerpt from the transcript of the
Department of State January 9 press briefing in which spokesman
Lincoln White, in response to a question about U.S. policy
concerning Chiang Kai-sheks
desire to return to the mainland, referred to the joint communique
of October 23, 1958 (cited in footnote 3,
Document 19), and Kennedys comments at his June 27 press conference
(see Document 137). (Department of State,
Central Files, 793.00/1-1063)↩

Telegram 593 from Taipei, cited in footnote 2 above, reported that a
Defense Ministry spokesman had stated on January 8 that the GRC “had many times sent large groups
of guerrillas to mainland” and that “feverish activity was proof
that GRC underground forces have
dealt them serious blows.”↩